East Hampton residents say PSEG LI left them out of ‘monster pole’ plan

A battle over high-tension power lines in an East Hampton neighborhood has residents along Cooper Lane miffed.
Dan Ujvari spoke with News 12 Tuesday about a PSEG Long Island plan to install a “monster pole” directly in front of his home. He says his neighbors were completely left out of the negotiations, while those on nearby McGuirk Street had been in talks with village trustees and PSEG Long Island for six years.
The village wants the utility to bury high-tension lines on McGuirk Street. Ujvari says the village notified neighbors that the project includes putting up a new power pole nearly 50 feet high on Cooper Lane.
Residents claim the Village of East Hampton started moving ahead with the plan without getting input from residents. Ujvari says the “monster pole” is an eyesore and that real estate professionals informed him that it would devalue his property by a minimum of 20%.
“We just want to have a voice in the negotiation. We want to understand what’s going on … and what alternatives there might be,” Ujvari told News 12.
Village officials say they are holding a public meeting to gather input from residents on the project.
PSEG Long Island will be attending. It issued a statement to News 12: "We are looking forward to the village’s support of a suitable design for the project. We will consider any reasonable alternative proposed.”
The hearing is set for tonight at the Emergency Services Building.